By Chidinma Ewunonu-Aluko
Online Health Company Ltd. (O Health), Ibadan, on Thursday launched an Electronic Medical Record (EMR) software to improve healthcare delivery.
The Chief Medical Director (CMD) of University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, Prof. Jesse Otegbayo, said at the event that the EMR would improve comprehensive patient care.
Otegbayo was represented by the UCH Deputy Chairman of Medical Advisory Council, Dr Olusola Olawoye.
He said that EMR improved operational efficiency, reduced administrative cost/burdens and allowed more time for direct patient care.
According to Otegbayo, EMR enhances data-driven healthcare, interoperability, coordination and patient engagement.
He added that it prevented duplication of tests and procedures.
“With EMR system, patients’ waiting time can be reduced, as it provides doctors with detailed information about the patient.
“It is a system that can pave way for the future where the healthcare will be advanced in our country and even the entire Africa,” he said.
Otegbayo, however, said that there could be challenges of lack of standardisation and data security as well as privacy concerns, costs, financial barriers, and technical challenges in maintaining EMR system.
He, therefore, called for a strategic and collaborative approach by all stakeholders to make the system to work.
The Oyo State Vice Chairman of the Nigeria Medical Association, Dr Happy Adedapo, said that the EMR system would favour both healthcare workers and patients.
Adedapo urged governments to support the system financially and implement policies that would make it work well.
“It is a welcome development because the world is gradually changing.
“Nigeria shouldn’t lag behind. There is need to digitalise in this age,” he said.
Earlier, the Chief Executive Officer of the company, Dr Temitope Farombi, said that the key features of the EMR system were quick and easy upload of pre-existing patients’ records and seamless integration with lab results and pharmacy.
She listed the other features to include easy extraction of data for reporting and decision-making.
“There is image capturing as a preventive measure against fraud, in-app messaging, scheduling and billing features, which support unlimited collaboration among various units within the health facility,” she said.
Farombi, also a neurologist at UCH, said that the aim of the EMR was to improve healthcare system using digitalised technology.
She urged governments to ensure deployment of appropriate infrastructure for a sustainable EMR system in Nigeria.
“We have enough human resources to start healthcare digitalisation.
“All healthcare providers should come onboard to achieve this aim,” Farombi said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the company is dedicated to providing quality healthcare services through a proficient online medical platform that gives patients easy access to qualified doctors (NAN)
